Slipper lobsters (Scyllaridae) off the southeastern coast of Brazil: relative growth, population structure, and reproductive biology

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Relative growth and morphological sexual maturity of the mangrove crab Aratus pisonii (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) (Decapoda, Brachyura, Sesarmidae) on the southern coast of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Allometric growth of two species of Ephemeroptera from Neotropical mountains streams

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Post-larval morphology, growth, and development of Uca cumulanta Crane, 1943 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Ocypodidae) under laboratory conditions

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Juvenile development and growth patterns in the mud crab Eurytium limosum (Say, 1818) (Decapoda, Brachyura, Xanthidae) under laboratory conditions

The post-larval development of the mud crab Eurytium limosum was studied under laboratory conditions by using the offspring of ovigerous females collected at the Comprido River mangrove, SP, Brazil. The first crab stage is fully described and the juvenile development, until crab stage 10, is examined with emphasis on morphological change, sexual differentiation and growth patterns. The carapace of the first crab stage is nearly square as observed in other xanthids, becoming similar to adults only at stage 15. The sexes can be distinguished from stage four, based on the number of pleopods and their morphology. While the intermoult period increases, the moult percentage decreases at each stage. The abdominal allometric growth is sex-dependent, with males showing a negative (b=0.71) and females an isometric (b=0.95) relative growth pattern. Male gonopods undergo a positive allometric growth, and their shape changes remarkably until sexual maturity. The cheliped dentition can be observed after stage 4. Regardless of sex, most crabs have a molariform right cheliped, which is thought to aid the handling of asymmetric prey such as gastropods.

Comparison of cheliped weight and growth in two species of crabs of the genus Callinectes (Brachyura, Portunidae)

A comparison of the cheliped's weight in two species of the genus Callinectes was accomplished. The species C. danae e C. ornatus were collected by two otter trawl in Ubatuba bay (23 degrees 26' S and 45 degrees 02' W). The allometric constants obtained from the regression adjusted to a power function (Y = aX(b)) were analyzed. These species presented different allometry degrees for each sex considered. The relation Pe x PC presented positive allometry for sex of both species, but male presented higher positive allometry than female. C. danae presented higher positive allometry for chelipeds than C. ornatus. We suggest here that C. danae could be indicated to be submitted to grow out in ponds since it reaches higher size and bigger chelipeds.

Growth of free-floating aquatic macrophytes in different concentrations of nutrients

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus on the growth of the free-floating aquatic macrophytes Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, and Salvinia molesta. The plants were cultured in 2,000-l outdoor concrete tanks. Triplicate tanks, with a continuous flow of effluent from culture ponds containing Nile tilapia, were used for each plant type (n = 3). The plant material was collected monthly from 0.25 m(2) floating quadrats, at the two ends of the tanks (higher nutrient concentrations near the inflow and lower nutrient concentrations near the outflow). In low nutrient concentrations, the maximum relative growth rates (RGRs) for E. crassipes (0.016/day) and P. stratiotes (0.016/day) were significantly lower (P <= 0.05) than for S. molesta (0.029/day). There were no significant differences between the RGRs of S. molesta in the different nutrient concentrations. Eichhornia crassipes and P. stratiotes had their growth limited by nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. The increase in plant density during the experiment probably also affected the growth of these species. In this context, E. crassipes and P. stratiotes can cause problems in nutrient-rich waterbodies, but under these experimental conditions their growth was limited by nitrogen and/or phosphorus concentrations. The growth of S. molesta was not influenced by the different nutrient concentrations.

Allometric growth in the fiddler crab Uca thayeri (Brachyura, Ocypodidae) from a subtropical mangrove

The relative growth of U. thayeri was studied for a subtropical mangrove population in the estuary of the Comprido and Escuro rivers, Ubatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil. The evaluation of the morphological sexual maturity of U. thayeri was performed using the allometric technique. Remarkable ontogenetic changes were observed in the allometric growth of the male major cheliped and the female abdomen, indicating that these structures are closely connected to the timing of sexual maturity. For males, the relative-growth analysis of cheliped propodus length rendered an estimate of 13.8 mm of carapace width for the size at onset of sexual maturity. A distinct growth pattern was observed for the abdomen of U. thayeri females. It has a wide puberty size range (from 10.7 to 16.8 mm of CW) compared to other brachyurans previously studied. Thus, the females' abdominal growth can be represented by three growth phases: immature, transitional, and mature. The major cheliped is the fight one in 50% of males. The median length of the male major cheliped did not differ between right- and left-handed crabs.

Effects of egg storage time on spread of hatch, chick quality, and chick juvenile growth

A total of 1,800 incubating eggs produced by a commercial flock of Cobb broiler breeders was used to determine the effects of storage duration (3 or 18 d) on spread of hatch and chick quality. Chick relative growth (RG) at the end of 7 d of rearing was also determined as a measure of the chick performance. Chick quality was defined to encompass several qualitative characteristics and scored according to their importance. Eggs stored for 3 d hatched earlier than those stored for 18 d (P < 0.05). Hatching was normally distributed in both categories of eggs, and the spread of hatch was not affected by storage time (P = 0.69). Storage duration of 18 d reduced the percentage of day-old chick with high quality as well as average chick quality score (P < 0.05). RG varied with length of egg storage, quality of day-old chick, and the incubation duration (P < 0.05). Eighteen-day storage of eggs not only resulted in longer incubation duration and lower quality score but also depressed RG. Chick quality as defined in this study was correlated to RG and storage time. It was concluded that day-old chick quality may be a relatively good indicator of broiler performance. The results suggest however that in order to improve performance prediction power of chick quality, it would be better to define it as a combination of several qualitative aspects of the day-old chick and the juvenile growth to 7 d.

A description of the growth of the major body components of 2 broiler chicken strains

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of temperature, irradiance and photoperiod on growth and pigment content in some freshwater red algae in culture

The responses of relative growth rate (% day-1) and pigment content (chlorophyll a, phycocyanin and phycoerythrin) to temperature, irradiance and photoperiod were analyzed in culture in seven freshwater red algae: Audouinella hermannii (Roth) Duby, Audouinella pygmaea (Kützing) Weber-van Bosse, Batrachospermum ambiguum Montagne, Batrachospermum delicatulum (Skuja) Necchi et Entwisle, 'Chantransia' stages of B. delicatulum and Batrachospermum macrosporum Montagne and Compsopogon coeruleus (C. Agardh) Montagne. Experimental conditions included temperatures of 10, 15, 20 and 25°C and low and high irradiances (65 and 300 μmol photons m-2 s-1, respectively). Long and short day lengths (16:8 and 8:16 LD cycles) were also applied at the two irradiances. Growth effects of temperature and irradiance were evident in most algae tested, and there were significant interactions among treatments. Most freshwater red algae had the best growth under low irradiance, confirming the preference of freshwater red algae for low light regimens. In general there was highest growth rate in long days and low irradiance. Growth optima in relation to temperature were species-specific and also varied between low and high irradiances for the same alga. The most significant differences in pigment content were related to temperature, whereas few significant differences could be attributed to variation in irradiance and photoperiod or interactions among the three parameters. The responses were species-specific and also differed for pigments in distinct temperatures, irradiances and photoperiods in the same alga. Phycocyanin was generally more concentrated than phycoerythrin and phycobiliproteins were more concentrated than chlorophyll a. The highest total pigment contents were found in two species typical of shaded habitats: A. hermannii and C. coeruleus. The expected inverse relationship of pigment with irradiance was observed only in C. coeruleus. In general, the most favorable conditions for growth were not coincident with those with highest pigment contents.

Growth and yield analysis in different methods of beet (Cv. 'tall top early wonder') plantation

This objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different methods of red beet seedling production and direct sowing on the development of the plant in field conditions. 'Tall Top Early Wonder' was used as the cultivar. The experimental design was a randomized blocks with 4 replications of each treatment: T1 - seedling produced in trays of 288 cells; T2 - 200 cells; T3 - 128 cells; T4 - 128 cells; T5 - direct sowing and T6 - bare-root seedling. The seedlings produced in trays and bare root seedlings were transplanted in the field 28 DAS with spacing of 0.20 x 0.10m. The mean height of plants, leaf area, leaf dry matter, petiole dry matter, shoot dry matter, root dry matter, relationship between shoot dry matter and root dry matter, absolute growth rate, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, leaf area ratio and specific leaf area were determined. Storage root fresh matter and mean storage root diameter were determined starting from 77 DAS. Initial growth of the plants were superior for the direct sowing, resulting in smaller RGR and NAR than the other treatments. Independent of the production method, an increase of the cycle of the crop was verified. T6 had larger delay in the initial development. There was no difference for productivity. Method T1, had less expenses with respect to substrate and space in the vegetation home, without reduction in production.

Determination of broiler femur parameters at different growth phases

The objective of this experiment was to analyse macroscopically the femur and determine the biochemical values at 8, 22 and 42 days of age, producing basic results that can help to understand the pathogeny of the locomotor problems and the broiler physiologic growth. A total of 60 Cobb male broilers were distributed in three age groups (8, 22 and 42 days of age) of 20 birds. All macroscopic measurements, except the cranial compact layer increased (p<0.05) over the course of the ages. The cranial compact layer presented the biggest measure at 22 days of age. The ash percentage increased (p<0.05) until 22 days of age, but at 42 days of age this values decreased. Calcium and phosphorus percentage in ash increased (p<0.05) until 22 days of age and evidenced constancy from 22 to 42 days of age. The biomechanical adaptation capacity of femur was evidenced by the increase of the macroscopic measures over the course of the ages and the different behavior of cranial compact layer at 22 days of age suggested an adaptation attempt of the immature bone to muscle mass increase. The ash and mineral percentage confirmed that the relative growth occurs with more intensity until 21 days of age. The calcium and phosphorus percentage evidenced the physiologic balance acting on the deposition of these minerals in femur. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011.

Copper oxychloride fungicide and its effect on growth and oxidative stress of potato plants

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeito da luz no crescimento de mudas de Hymenaea parvifolia Huber

Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar o efeito da intensidade de luz no crescimento de mudas de Hymenaea parvifolia Huber., bem como inferir sobre o seu grau de tolerância à sombra. Para tal, foi instalado um experimento em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos (níveis de luz): pleno sol (PS), 50% de sombreamento, 70% de sombreamento e sombreamento natural (SN). Os níveis de 50 e 70% de sombreamento foram obtidos com o uso de telas de polipropileno preto, e o sombreamento natural constituiu a luminosidade natural sob um dossel fechado de floresta. Cada tratamento foi constituído de 10 repetições. Plantas sob sombreamento (50% e 70% de sombreamento) apresentaram maior altura, área foliar e razão de área foliar e poucas diferenças no acúmulo de massa seca quando comparadas com plantas mantidas a pleno sol. Como conseqüência, poucas diferenças foram observadas na taxa de crescimento relativo das mudas desses tratamentos. Todavia, mudas mantidas sob sombreamento natural foram as que exibiram menor taxa de crescimento relativo e taxa assimilatória líquida. em conjunto, os resultados indicaram que Hymenaea parvifolia foi capaz de se ajustar para maximizar a aquisição de luz mesmo em condição muito limitante, como a proporcionada pelo sombreamento natural, e a produção de mudas dessa espécie vegetal pode ser realizada em viveiro desde a pleno sol, como a 50% ou 70% de sombreamento.